The 155 TI.Z was unveiled in the autumn of 1993 and was based on the range topping 190-bhp four-wheel drive Q4. Ercole Spada’s design called for substantial modifications to the bodywork and left just the bonnet, front door, roof and boot untouched. Flared DTM-style wheel arches were made of lightweight composites to accommodate wider front and rear track (up from 1.477 mm to 1.517 mm and from 1.402 to 1.446 mm respectively), and the rear door was also reskinned). The more aggressively styled front bumper incorporated larger air intakes for the engine bay, the sills were redesigned and the rear was characterised by a bumper with cut-outs in its lower surface that aped DTM’s venturis. The bumper design, together with the boot-mounted spoiler, helped reduce drag from 0.31 to 0.296 and create rear down-force. To increase still further the TI.Z’s sporting pretensions, Giuseppe Bizzarrini fitted adjustable gas dampers along with variable rating springs, and the ride height was lowered by 34 mm. Chassis interventions were completed by attractive17x7.5” rims and the adoption of Uniballs on the front suspension mounting points to improve precision. Thanks to a reprogrammed engine management unit power rose to 230 bhp (500 rpm lower down the rev range at 5500 rpm), and torgue increased to 32 kgm at 3500 rpm, up from 30.3 kgm at 2500 rpm). Completion of the 155 TI.Z’s development programme coincided with closure of the Zagato production plant. It was a hard moment for Elio and Gianni Zagato, but it was inevitable, given the delays in receiving the hoped for commission from Alfa Romeo.IMO a missed opportunity.

However the styling and engineering division had been consolidated with the arrival of a new partner –ex-racing driver Giorgio Schon, son of the fashion stylist Mila Schon. With SZ Design’s new direction as a services provider clearly marked out, Luca Zagato decided to go it alone. Ever since he had joined the company, Luca had been involved in the industrial side and was keen to put to good use the production experience he had accumulated. With backing from a Japanese businessman, Luca set up a separate business with a view to building very limited series of specials. While the Zagato-bodied 155 TI.Z remained a one-off prototype, Luca Zagato’s company, Z automobili, build 24 cars between 1995 and 1996 (based on an earlier proposal known as the GTA.Z (1995)) all destined for the Japanese market.

Some questions about these fantasic cars:

What were the differences between the original TI.Z prototype, the GTA.Z and the production version from Z Automobili?Why were only 24 cars made and why was the car only available in Japan, although they are RHD?Why were they not LHD although a 155 existed as LHD?What was the price for a 155 Zagato, and what is the value now?Are there any other projects from Z Automobili, and does that company still exists?